Athens
, 2 June 2009
Your Excellency the Prime Minister,
Your Excellencies, Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to be here with you today, among so many distinguished guests.
I want to congratulate the UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador and the President of the Foundation for the Child and Family, Ms. Marianna Vardinoyannis, as well as the Chairman of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Director General of the Energy and Resources Institute, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, who – in collaboration with the World Sustainable Development Forum – took the initiative to organize this Conference.
A year ago, here in Athens, we hosted the first International Conference on Climate Change and Human Security, within the framework of Greece’s Chairmanship of the Human Security Network. It was the culminating event of a year of efforts to draw attention to the close relationship between climate change and vulnerable population groups in the developing world, with emphasis on children, women and migrating populations. During this Chairmanship, we organized international events to raise awareness, in collaboration with special and intergovernmental organizations, and we funded the drawing up of four relevant policy papers: one on each of the above groups, as well as a more comprehensive policy paper on the direction in which we need to take development cooperation and assistance in order to support those most vulnerable in the developing world in their adaptation to climate change.
We started with two basic premises:
First, that responsibility for global warming is not shared equally, and that the consequences are felt disproportionately by those who have had the smallest hand in causing the phenomenon. Secondly, a certain amount of climate change is inevitable, and beyond dealing with it, we also have to bolster the capacity of those with the least means and infrastructure to adapt to it.
Today, a year later, I am in a position to say that my country – a small country with limited economic means – has already concluded relevant agreements with the African Union and CARICOM on funding programmes for adaptation to climate change; programmes that are currently in the assessment phase. In addition to supporting least developed countries of Africa and the Caribbean, we are going to offer similar support to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), providing a total of €20 million over the next 4 years.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
However many initiatives are taken by states like Greece or others – such as the EU’s unilateral commitments on cutting emissions – without global consensus and cooperation, the challenge of climate change will be a permanent and intense presence. And this is gradually becoming clear to everyone.
We are, after all, talking about an unprecedented phenomenon whose consequences we cannot predict with precision. But the bottom line is that there are environmental and economic repercussions that affect us all.
Climate change is closely linked to the immediate future of the planet, the energy we consume, our nutritional and consumer habits, health and human security. That is why every initiative – including this one today – that looks at climate change on a regional and global level is moving in the right direction.
All the more so when the focus of attention is a high-risk region like the Mediterranean, where climate change may well exacerbate existing problems, such as poverty, armed conflict and mass migration from south to north and from east to west. Scientists are already predicting that if temperature increase exceeds 2oC, desertification will be unavoidable over large geographical areas. Moreover, rising sea levels will exacerbate problems with flooding and erosion in coastal areas, threatening communities, infrastructure and other facilities.
So the great challenge lies in protecting the unique Mediterranean environment, which has been the basis of the economy, way of life and culture of the region for hundreds of years now.
It is my personal view that the policies and actions undertaken within the Mediterranean framework – with the main emphasis on civil protection – will serve as an indicator of broader success or failure for the global community and international environmental cooperation.
First of all, the long-standing economic and cultural cooperation between the peoples of the Mediterranean and the bonds of friendship developed between them.
And secondly, the fact that we have realized that we are interdependent because we feel the pressures and the strains caused by global problems like environmental degradation.
Sudan is the most eloquent example for helping one see that using natural resources in a rational and just manner can secure peace, security and economic subsistence.
Dear friends,
It is certain that action should be taken immediately and be constant and consistent. In the midst of the current economic crisis, facing climate change in economic terms is more topical than ever. Although the Stern report supported immediate action – not just as an environmental and social imperative, but also as an economically viable decision – one thing is certain: the current crisis has complicated things. This is one view of the situation.
The other view is more radical and more optimistic. It argues that we might have a unique opportunity to examine and re-determine the relationship between the environment and the economy as a whole, by balancing two notions that seemed incompatible until now. Tackling environmental issues doesn’t imply that our development has to go at a slower pace. And we cannot return to the model of the pre-industrial era either. We just need to invest in research, develop green technology even further, find truly financially competitive solutions, adjust our development cooperation and assistance policies, and, of course, reach international agreement on how to address climate change.
At the Copenhagen Conference this year, our only goal should be a new and truly global agreement on climate change. I believe that we are more mature today and more determined to succeed. It is very encouraging that big players such as the United States and Australia have started to review their stance. But we all need to take part in, and contribute to, this dialogue and this effort. I am talking about both developed countries and emerging economies such as China and India. The longer environmental problems are intensified – as people become more environmentally aware and conscious – the more difficult it will be for any state to face accusations of being a world polluter.
In closing, I would like to point out the extremely significant role played by the scientists who managed to convince the people – first, unfortunately – and then the politicians of the dimensions of this problem and the importance of taking immediate action. I am certain that Dr. Pachauri fully understands what I mean.
Now it is up to us – the political leaders – to turn knowledge into political actions.
It is therefore up to us to change things.
Provided each state – small or large – assumes its responsibilities. We will do that by putting the environment at the top of our agenda.
By taking preventive and effective action so as not to lose precious time and natural resources, but most importantly so as to safeguard the precious lives of those – mainly small children – who unjustly pay the price for our own failure to cooperate and escape our narrow and short-sighted mindsets.
I wish you all the best with your proceedings.
Thank you.